Superdreadnought Battleship, 'The Mighty Oak', 1914-1939

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Superdreadnought Battleship, 'The Mighty Oak', 1914-1939

Рет қаралды 70,806

Күн бұрын

HMS Royal Oak was a Superdreadnought Battleship of the British Royal Navy and served in World War 1 and briefly in World War 2.
In the early hours of 14th October, 1939 and in the calm waters of Scapa Flow sits the Superdreadnought Battleship HMS Royal Oak. She was a veteran of World War 1 and fought courageously at Jutland but is now one of the senior ships of the Home Fleet.
Onboard is over one thousand crew, including over 100 boy sailors. The quiet Scottish night however, is about to be shattered by a hidden attacker with catastrophic consequence.
Lurking beneath the surface is German U-Boat U-47, captained by Gunther Prien. He has intelligence that several Royal Navy ships are moored at Scapa Flow and easy targets for his torpedoes.
HMS Royal Oak was launched in 1914 and entered service in 1916.
She was sunk at Scapa Flow in 1939 in the early days of World War 2.
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Пікірлер: 133

@ravismcromarty5600 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant documentary. Better then a lot of over the top dramatised documentaries there is on normal TV. I like your no nonsense presenting style :)

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@chrismccartney8668 Жыл бұрын

Superb quality documentary.

@paulclacher4825 Жыл бұрын

Brilliant thanks for this , as others have mentioned good to see history of the ship and not just the sinking .. my great uncle William Clacher lays to rest on the Royal Oak … he was 16 years old . RIP to all the brave men and boys that went down with her ✌️🙏

@terrysaint7629 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. My Dad was Quarter Master at the time of the sinking and would not have got off if he had been below. He would not tell me about what happened accept a lot of flames below and men screaming and then swimming in ice cold water until the Daisy pulled him onboard. He survived the war after another ship he was on was bombed and he had to have a leg amputated.

@vladdrakul7851 2 жыл бұрын

I am only alive because my grandad survived the sinking of the Royal Oak because he was in the brig ONLAND, arrested for drunken misbehavior. Sadly I never met him as he died the same year I was born as a result of the same destructive eating and drinking habits. I rarely drink thank God! Life is filled with these ironies as with my German mom's fathers best friend was the same Gunther Prien who had sunk the Royal Oak. 'All in the family' indeed!!

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's a strange turn of events indeed. Thanks for sharing.

@vladdrakul7851 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheNorthernHistorian Indeed I remember my uncle had a beautiful large old style brown and white style poster of the ship on his wall in the mid 60's when I was a boy. He, like me later, went into the RAF (me a Flight Sgt at Fulton Airbase; late '70's). My eyesight was so poor, I would never have gotten to fly the Harrier so I quit and instead moved to NYC to work, where I got hired by John Lennon's older hippie friend David Peel to play lead guitar. 3 days before recording with Lennon on Peel's LP (he was helping his old friend by playing rhythm while I did lead). He was killed on the same street my mom lived on then, W 72nd street. Indeed life is full of ironies! Good luck and health to you! Great documentary btw. Very illuminating! You just got another satisfied subscriber! Keep up the great work!

@harrymarwick2529 Жыл бұрын

One of the best documentary videos about Royal Oak I’ve seen thus far. Not just only sticking to the sad demise of the Royal Oak and her crew as many other videos do, but you have gone that little bit further and included more of the history of the ship and her service, from the battle of Jutland to the supposed mutiny etc. Well done. From the great nephew of James Moar, one of her crew who gave his life doing his duty on that fateful night.

@24th1879 Жыл бұрын

Brilliantly done.. I've read the story of the Royal Oak and seen several documentaries and have to say this video was as professionally executed and as interesting and informative as anything else I've seen. Well done Northern Historian..

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Chris. Glad you enjoyed it!

@petanders1968 2 жыл бұрын

A very watchable video, I've been fascinated about this ship and it!s history the last year having found out my late father was a survivor. Thank you for putting the video together ,you should share it with the face book group who I'm sure would appreciate your efforts - H.M.S ROYAL OAK families & friends

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much. I'm not in that group on Facebook but please feel free to share it yourself.

@phbrinsden Жыл бұрын

Excellent doc about this grand older lady. RIP all those boys and sailors.

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. Tragic story though.

@iainmalcolm9583 2 жыл бұрын

Some excellent work on this video. Good to hear about the general history of a ship and not just about the sinking.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@MoatenGat 2 жыл бұрын

Another outstanding video. Your videos are top notch, i learn so much from your content. There are a lot of creators out there that should take note on how it's done. Thanks again, and stay safe.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

@kiwifruit27 2 жыл бұрын

An excellently researched video with plenty of photos and a pleasant voice over. Thanks for all your efforts

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

So nice of you, thanks

@colinhunt4057 8 ай бұрын

A good and accurate video of the Royal Oak and its loss. What needs to be understood is that the five R class battleships were built as deliberately cheaper alternatives to the much more successful and effective Queen Elizabeth class. The R's lacked the full amour protection of the Queen Elizabeths. The R's had inferior antiaircraft defense, much less speed (they all failed their design speed at trials), and less endurance. The RN recognized that these were inferior ships, and the R's received much less in the way of refits and upgrades between the wars as did the Queens. Their slow speed and increasing mechanical unreliability meant that they were largely confined to Atlantic escort duty during WW2. Two of them had their main guns removed even before the D-Day invasions (now on display at the front main doors of the Imperial War Museum in London). In short, as battleships by the time of WW2 they were essentially worthless for any serious military operation. They were far too slow even to escort the huge passenger liners across the Atlantic. They were only useful to provide some shore bombardment support during D-Day landings. Despatching them to the Indian Ocean in 1942 would have been a death sentence for all of them if the Kido Butai (1st Air Fleet) had caught them at sea.

@JohnRodriguesPhotographer Жыл бұрын

This is an excellent history of a fine ship, done respectfully as all videos on like subjects should be, HMS Royal Oak. May her fine crew rest in peace. I know you have done a lot of background work to produce this video. Raise a glass to the Mighty Oak in satisfaction. I know the men that crewed her from launch to loss are nodding agreement with me.

@mikejulietkilo4167 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for that. AB Ellis Clarke survived....my Great Uncle....and inspired me to join in 1983.

@mehusla Жыл бұрын

Such a video allows historians and laymen a window of proud reflection into our naval splendour. Thank you for your good work.

@LBG-cf8gu Жыл бұрын

Excellent! More! Thanks for the upload.

@KairuinKorea 2 жыл бұрын

Bloody hell. Somebody's production value has increased over the last few months since I last saw you. Fantastic job man!

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much, very kind.

@andrewclayton4181 2 жыл бұрын

Following this attack the defences were beefed up. Some channels into the anchorage being permanently blocked, and tighter submarine net procedures being used. There wasn't another intrusion. Good video.

@Dilley_G45 Жыл бұрын

I don't think another one was tried. It was too obvious it couldn't work twice. Kplt. Prien of U-47 wrote about the meeting where he was asked if he would do the attack. They spoke about barriers at Scapa Flow. I don't recall the details but there is a report about the planning meeting

@TTTT-oc4eb Жыл бұрын

Excellent documentary about a ship mainly remembered for being sunk! So much interesting history, so little time...

@bigships 2 жыл бұрын

To be fair she wasn’t as big of a material loss as Hood, Prince of Wales, Repulse or Barham the revenge class was really just the worst aspects of the Queen Elizabeth class stuffed into a battleship. The loss of her crew however was a tragedy.

@robertsullivan4773 Жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation thank you. I will be subscribing.

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Awesome, thank you!

@darrensmith6999 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant Video as always. Thank you.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@marcusj2283 2 жыл бұрын

Really fantastic video as im putting together a collection of things to do with the Royal Oak most interesting to see more about the history of her and not just about the wreck

@richardherbert5216 2 жыл бұрын

Easily the best video of it's kind I've seen.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much.

@rustyrover3808 Жыл бұрын

Excellent you get better every time 👍👏👏👏👏

@mpersad 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and moving video. Excellent graphics and use of archive footage and stills. Top video.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Many thanks!

@vespelian Жыл бұрын

Great work. The Jutland and 'Royal Oak mutiny' were particularly interesting.

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Thanks.

@Socialism_Sucks Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this most informative video. My step-Grandad was killed on this fateful night. RIP Albert Alfred Park - Stoker 1st Class.

@panzerivausfg4062 2 жыл бұрын

Another great video! Keep them coming!!

@sasmitadas4866 2 жыл бұрын

Fascinating video. Thanks for posting

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@sasmitadas4866 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheNorthernHistorian you know that Drake's Drum was heard abroad HMS Royal Oak when the German High Seas Fleet surrendered

@VintageCarHistory 2 жыл бұрын

Good stuff and very happy to see some new content. You do great work!

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated!

@johnbockelie3899 2 жыл бұрын

Then along came the U 47, and she was sunk.

@thearsenalmisfit2414 Жыл бұрын

Great production. My favorite pic is the 1 with HMS Victory in the back ground actually afloat in the harbour

@steviedee8921 Жыл бұрын

Superb video sir. Sailed over the wreck in 1989 and could still oil leaking from her.

@warhawk4494 2 жыл бұрын

Great video on a tough old ship that did her duty and then got sunk in her home harbor by a sneaky U-boat.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much.

@jimbaird8976 2 жыл бұрын

Well presented and fascinating video. Thank you

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

You're welcome.

@martinmackay8450 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your good work keep it up,we may be few but we enjoy your work 👍

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated

@richardkeilig4062 6 ай бұрын

A nice memorial for the ship. A memorial for all ships from all nations during war should exist.

@robaskham9145 11 ай бұрын

My Grandad was, fortunately for me, one of the few with the rank of ‘Boy’ who survived.

@MoatenGat 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much Sean!

@captainkipper8357 Жыл бұрын

Excellent, thanks for posting

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@reidbronson6358 Жыл бұрын

I did not know the background or details of this disaster until I watched this excellent video. Thank you. New Subscriber.

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Thanks very much.

@vanmust Жыл бұрын

I like the way you narrate stories with a neutral point of view...I would't expect anything less from a proud Scot

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

I am former RAF serviceman and I try to tell the stories from a neutral stance as on both sides of any conflict, there are servicemen and women just doing their jobs as directed by their politicians. I'm also a proud Englishman from Newcastle haha, not Scotland.

@vanmust Жыл бұрын

@@TheNorthernHistorian did my degree in Sotton and then Sunderland you could have fooled me haha

@ThirteenthOfFour 2 жыл бұрын

I've been meaning to research up and search up the old Royal Oak, so; much obliged. (And yes, I am binge watching your videos, take that as a compliment sir)

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

That's great to hear. I Hope you enjoy your binge.

@BuzzSargent 2 жыл бұрын

Sad but, enlightening story.

@MrPeter924 2 жыл бұрын

Good video sounds ship. Great show

@fredhoupt4078 Жыл бұрын

Very well done.

@leeedsonetwo Жыл бұрын

Excellent story telling and its simple best.

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot 😊

@neilsimpson3181 2 жыл бұрын

Very informative

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it

@Eric_Hutton.1980 Жыл бұрын

Love the Revenge class battleships, and they are my favorite British battleships.

@garyhaynes2433 2 жыл бұрын

That’s when we had a navy

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

It was indeed a different era.

@paulbarton7886 Жыл бұрын

A relative of mine was one of the boy sailors that survived the sinking, he was then posted to HMS Hood.....

@johnwalsh7256 Жыл бұрын

Great job 👏

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Thank you John! 😃

@markhooper5824 2 жыл бұрын

Great episode mate.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

@leongt1954 Жыл бұрын

This is the only video that has characterized correctly Graf Spee and Deutschland as heavy cruisers but the Gneisenau was a battlecruiser not a battleship

@ems4580 2 жыл бұрын

My two grandads where Royal Navy one being a stoker and one a DEMs gunner. They where best mates and tried to join too early and where turned away! I wonder if the sinking of Royal Oak prevented them from joining as youths??

@wandrinyew Жыл бұрын

What is remembered, lives.

@josemariaoliverimarin4049 Жыл бұрын

Comento en español ke es mi idioma. El documental es muy bueno. Hablo sobre el buque en si. ,Era un buen acorazado tipico de super dreadnougth de la época. En realidad ignoro por qué motivos ( económicos posiblemente) la costrcción de esta clase representó un retroceso respecto de los exelentes y futuristas Queen Elizabeth, los mejores acorazados constrídos antes de ls guerra de 1914, los iniciadores de la era de los a corazados rápidos. Los cañones de 381mm continuaon usándose hasta el Vanguard, último acorazado construído para la Royal Navy y último del mundo. Una granada inglesa inglesa de tal calibre pesaba el doble ke la alemana de 305 mm. Y dicho sea al pasar,los proyectiles del Hood ke eran los mismos, pesaban más ke los del Bismarck del mismo calibre 381 pero más modernos. Lo ke le faltaba al Royal Oak y a toda esa clase era velocidad. Por eso durante toda la Segunda Guerra constituyeron " un gasto y una ansiedad" (creo sin seguridad absoluta ke lo dijo Churchill). Pero era un formidable navío para su momento, superior a cualkiera de la Marina Imperial Alemana. Y cumplió muy bien su papel hasta su sorpresivo final. Hay ke considerar ke los torpedos de los submarinos alemanes de 1939 no eran los mismos ke los de 1914.

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Muchas gracias por tu comentario.

@robertewing3114 Жыл бұрын

Churchill called them coffin ships. He did so because their deck armour was inadequate but he may have considered the speed factor. The Nelson class were slower but substantially better protected.

@ianhaynes5898 Жыл бұрын

I have been to Kirkwall and seen the memorial.

@mycroft1905 2 жыл бұрын

What a sad, sad story. TFP

@TheFarinared 2 жыл бұрын

Welcome back

@paulmillard1130 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for doing what schools fail to do these days . Well told history.

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it Paul, you're welcome

@rjmun580 2 жыл бұрын

As always a first class presentation. I wonder if you could clarify the description of the quick firing gun shown at 3:17. It has 3 inch and 20 cwt. I understand the 3 inch part of it but what does 20 cwt refer to ? - surely it can't be a 1 ton shell, thanks.

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

20 cwt refers to the weight of the barrel and breech. This is to differentiate with other 3 inch guns. Thanks for your comment.

@peterjohnson617 Жыл бұрын

heck of a way to go....rest softly

@peterfinucane8122 Жыл бұрын

The sailing ship in the background at 1:53. HMS Victory?

@johnjephcote7636 Жыл бұрын

My father told me that being on the teleprinters that night in Scapa, he saw the message come through reporting her sinking.

@geoffhunter7704 Жыл бұрын

Now the Royal Oak is lying capsized on her superstructure the War Grave of over 800 crew RIP.

@begbieyabass Жыл бұрын

Eeeh That was Canny like! Great Research

@TheNorthernHistorian Жыл бұрын

Geet chuffed you thought it was canny! Cheers Dave!

@michaelpielorz9283 3 ай бұрын

it was the mighty Oak until someone yelled "Timber"!!

@kevinmccarthy8746 Жыл бұрын

HEY VERY GOOD, Thank you your prodigal brother the USA love and esteem you. Thank you again

@scootergeorge7089 Жыл бұрын

Seems very close in size, speed, and armament as the USS Arizona.

@vernedavis5856 Жыл бұрын

why a painting of the picture(at seafloor)of the mighty ship?

@golden.lights.twinkle2329 Жыл бұрын

Was anyone held accountable for this debacle?

@raymondyee2008 Жыл бұрын

“Silent Hunter 2” the pc game has one mission on this historical sinking.

@romeowhiskey1146 9 ай бұрын

ARE there any SURVIVORS still living? Much to my surprise when viewing the SURVIVOR's LIST: My FIRST, MIDDLE and LAST name exactly matches one 'ordinary seaman'.

@user-ct8tk9nh8z 3 ай бұрын

Add another faux pas to the long list of bloops, bleeps, and bumps that is Winston Churchill's record as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty.

@mehusla Жыл бұрын

Wow. Really shows the huge size of the torpedo bulges

@johncox2865 Жыл бұрын

11:57 “I say, old chaps. Stiff upper lip and all that fine rot! Carry on!”

@glennquagmire1747 Жыл бұрын

War sucks but the British navys policy of having n using children on a warship is the most disgusting act ever !!!!

@richardkeilig4062 6 ай бұрын

Terrible loss of life. War is horrible for all.

@mafiousbj Жыл бұрын

Ah yes, underage sailors....being there for "training" but actually turned to be the butt of all jokes and abused verbally and physically by sailors and officers alike. So unfair they had to go through that

@kidmohair8151 2 жыл бұрын

as difficult as it is to "like" the death of 835 men and boys I have done that and left this comment for the algorithm because...tube of you (I also suffered through the ads, because every fraction of a penny counts)

@TheNorthernHistorian 2 жыл бұрын

Appreciated!

@kidmohair8151 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheNorthernHistorian d'ya think it might be possible to get the powers that be to change? without violently overthrowing them I mean